Delegate: Rachel Zaidan
Country: Kenya
Topic: Eradication of Poverty
Poverty is the lack of resources that result in some members of a community being unable to participate in society. This being a broad definition, there are also terms such as “extreme poverty” and “the poverty line” to describe the challenges struggling citizens face. Extreme poverty is used to describe those that are surviving on less than $1.90 a day, while the poverty line describes the threshold which divides whether or not a household could be described as in poverty. This threshold often varies from nation to nation. As a result of the differences in government structure, healthcare, and access to resources, each nation feels poverty’s effects in a unique way. Countries in Africa tend to be the most influenced. The truth is, even nations that are often viewed as “rich nations” struggle with poverty. Although, global poverty has decreased in recent years, it is a serious global problem that continues to take lives.
Kenya has taken some significant steps to reduce poverty in itself and other nations in its region. According to the most recent report, Kenya’s poverty rate is approximately 35.6%. This is down from 43.6% in 2005-2006. The evident improvement can be traced back to some of Kenya’s recent projects, such as the construction of a railway to connect Kenya to coastal towns in three other African countries. Despite these improvements, Kenya is still incredibly poor. The majority of jobs in Kenya are in agriculture, and due to Kenya’s unpredictable climate, the economy is extremely unstable. Only 58% of Kenya has a primary education, so finding employment outside of agriculture is often difficult for Kenyans. Because Kenya suffers so much from poverty, it is likely to support increased action in the fight against poverty, specifically in regions of Africa.
The improvement of infrastructure could greatly assist the fight against poverty. With increased means of transporting goods, the economy would improve. This will also succeed in bringing money to more rural areas, which is often where the most poverty can be found. Additionally, it would be beneficial to increase education rates. An increase in educated residents of a country allow for more diversity in job choices. This creates a stronger, more stable, economy. Poverty must be eradicated and Kenya is hopeful that, working together with other nations, a solution may be found.
- Rachel Zaidan
